Inside the walls of the World Champions Centre (WCC) in Spring, Texas, some of the most elite gymnasts in the world pushed their limits daily. Joscelyn Roberson was one of them. She trained alongside none other than Simone Biles—the most decorated gymnast of all time—learning firsthand what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Roberson isn’t just a promising gymnast but an Olympic alternate, a multiple-time international medalist, and a rising star in the NCAA. But now, as the NCAA postseason arrives, Roberson faces a different kind of challenge. One she didn’t have prepared for. What is that?

In a decision that’s left many scratching their heads, No. 16 Arkansas squad member and Olympic alternate Joscelyn Roberson won’t be competing at the SEC Gymnastics Championships. But it’s not because of injury or an eligibility issue—it all comes down to the conference’s refusal to include a bye rotation in the meet format.

For those unfamiliar, a bye rotation is a built-in break during a gymnastics meet, typically used in larger competitions to accommodate more teams. It allows gymnasts time to rest and refocus between events. So, why was Arkansas left out? Allegedly, it all boiled down to television. The SEC, in its quest for a neatly packaged broadcast, opted for a four-rotation format—one that doesn’t allow for a bye.

Earlier SEC Championships accommodated all 9 teams by adding a 5th rotation in the afternoon session. But now, with only eight teams in the conference, this structure forces the lowest-ranked squad out of the competition entirely. And that unfortunate casualty? Arkansas, who are No 16 in Nationals and 9th in SEC.

Arkansas had one last shot—one final vault, one final routine, one final chance to push themselves into the SEC Championship. But gymnastics is a sport of margins, and a 197.8-197.225 loss to No. 7 Missouri sealed their fate. Ninth in the SEC. On the outside looking in. Did they do enough to secure a national seed? That answer lies with the NCAA Selection Show on March 24.

Arkansas still clings to hope. Ranked 16th nationally with an NQS of 197.055, they’re in position for a postseason berth. But had they made the SEC Championship? Now, they wait. One number, one bracket, and one call will decide what comes next.

While the Razorbacks fell short as a team, Joscelyn Roberson has been nothing short of spectacular. The sophomore standout has delivered elite performances!

Joscelyn Roberson shines for Arkansas

In a season where the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team has faced their share of disappointments, freshman phenom Joscelyn Roberson has emerged as a dazzling constellation in Fayetteville’s athletic firmament. The Olympic alternate and 2023 world team champion wasted no time making her mark in collegiate competition! Don’t believe it? On January 17, during Arkansas’ first SEC dual meet against Auburn, Roberson delivered a performance that validated the excitement surrounding her arrival.

Despite the team’s narrow 196.700-196.250 defeat, she claimed event titles on both beam and floor, posting a career-high 9.925 on beam while finishing second in the all-around with a 39.275. As the season progressed, so did Roberson’s brilliance! She flirted with immortality during the Razorbacks’ match against Alabama on February 28, coming tantalizingly close to securing the first perfect 10 in program history. With one judge awarding perfection and another scoring 9.95, her 9.975 on-floor exercise anchored Arkansas to the third-highest event score in the NCAA program history.

Even in defeat during the regular season finale against No. 7 Missouri on March 14, Roberson’s light refused to dim. Once again, she approached perfection on the floor, earning a 9.925 that had coach Jordyn Wieber and the Bud Walton Arena crowd clamoring for the elusive perfect score. “It was an emotional night,” Wieber said afterward, voicing her belief that Roberson deserved the perfect mark, “I felt like, personally, a lot of routines were scored a lot lower than they should have been. That’s just my own opinion. I felt like the total should have been higher based on what I was seeing from the team.”

Well, what are your thoughts on the scoring? Let us know in the comments down below!